Before the Dallas Cowboys are discussed as a playoff team, (at least) two things are needed: 1) Marked improvement from a defense that blew five fourth-quarter leads in 2011; 2) Having rookie sensation DeMarco Murray ready to rumble.

Coach Jason Garrett said in April that Murray still was recovering from the
broken right ankle that ended his rookie season. That recovery appears to be
moving at a brisk pace.

A healthy Murray gives the Cowboys' offense a dimension it sorely missed in
his absence. Murray's stunning debut (25 rushes for 253 yards against the St.
Louis Rams in Week 6) lifted Dallas from 29th to 13th in the NFL in rushing --
in one game.